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The Jets had an underrated re-signing on Thursday, bringing back tight end Jelani Woods.
This is an under-the-radar move that could have an impact.
Very quietly, when he had a chance to play late last year, his blocking was impressive.
At a sculpted 6-7, 253 pounds, he looks the part coming off the bus, but on the field, he’s liking having an extra offensive tackle on one side of the line. He has arms like vines, and really gets after it as a blocker. He’s improved a lot in his area, first entering the league as more of a receiving tight end with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. Over the last four years, his blocking has improved a great deal.
And in the red zone, it never hurts to have a 6-7 tight end to throw to.
It should be noted that Woods was drafted by the Colts when the Jets’ new OC, Frank Reich, was the head coach, and they spent a year together. He knows Reich’s system and can help teach it to Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert in the tight end room.
Nice re-signing by the Jets.
They also re-signed defensive tackle Jowon Briggs. He had his moments last year, generating some pass rush with gap quickness, but he must work on his run defense. Like other Jets DTs, he had issues getting off blocks on some big runs up the middle. But re-signing him makes sense, at the very least, he could be a terrific third or fourth DT who plays a lot in a rotation. We all know NFL teams rotate the big fellas inside quite a bit.
They also re-signed linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball, a solid backup linebacker and core special teams player.
All three of these players have great character and are good for the clubhouse.
However, they didn’t offer John Metchie the restricted free agent tender, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz. This was a little bit of a surprise, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t bringing him back. They could still bring him back at a lower price than the restricted free tender, perhaps at a league minimum deal, and save some money.
Metchie had his moments, but also had a couple of bad drops. But all receivers have drops. Garrett Wilson has had plenty.
Metchie and Adonoi Mitchell were rushed into the lineup last year after they were acquired in-season via trades, and they were playing before they knew the system and had chemistry with the QBs. Not sure what the rush was. Not making excuses for either player, but thrusting them out there so fast was not a good idea, and aside from a couple of nice plays from each player, the results with them starting weren’t great.
With the Jets not offering Metchie the restricted free agent tender, you would have to think they are going to make a run at Colts receiver Alex Pierce, who is a free agent.
Pierce, like Woods, was drafted by Reich (and GM Chris Ballard) in Indianapolis in 2022. Reich loves this player, and he would be a terrific compliment to Wilson, and he can also help teach the new OC’s system to the receiver room.
This “player helping teach a system” thing is real. The idea of getting a good player in free agency, who also knows the system being installed on offense and/or defense, is a thing in free agency.
So don’t be surprised if the Jets sign Detroit Lions free agent linebacker Alex Anzalone, who knows the inner workings of the Aaron Glenn/Brian Duker defense quite well.
The Jets need a linebacker to run their defense on the field, a coach on the field if you will, who gets everyone lined up efficiently, and Anzalone would be perfect.
Last year, the Jets had a lot of communication issues on the field defensively, too often looking like the Keystone Cops, with blown assignments galore. This can’t continue. A guy like Anzalone could help in this area.
March 6, 2026
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